Caster



(No ModeL) r S. C. MENDENHALL.

l GASTER. No. 314,956. 'Patented 1V1a1'-31, 1885.

FIC-LNI` y l I Jvea/,071.' 760. mm/ W 61 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN C. MENDENHALL, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 110.314,95, dated March 31, 1885.

Application filed September 8, 1884. (No model.)

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN C.- MENDEN- HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of lVayne and- State of Indiana, (present business address Cincinnati, Ohio,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Casters for Furniture,Trueks, and other Articles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to render applicableto plate-casters havingtwotloorwheels the oscillating movement described in my application filed on the 6th of September, 1884. To this end I form a door-wheel axle with a horizontal cylindrical arm journaled within a corresponding bearing in the lower end of the spindle, which is riveted at its upper end over a washer on the top of the furniture-plate in the ordinary manner. Said spindle is provided with a horizontal ange 0r disk, which carries near its outer periphery an anti-friction roller located directly above the door-wheel axis. The furniture-plate is provided with a downwardly-projecting rib, forming a cup which surrounds and hides the anti-friction movement.

In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a perspective view of the rear of my improved caster. Fig. II is a vertical section of the top and the lower portion of the spindle, showing, however, the Hoor-wheel axle in elevation, with one of its wheels removed. Fig. III is a plan of the caster with the top plate removed.

The center of oscillation may be upon aline lying in the horizontal plane of the floor- Wheel axis, as here shown, or it may be situated at a point lying in a horizontal plane below Asaid axle, as I have explained in my aforesaid co-pending application. The oscillating movement is obtained by providing said axle l with a horizontal arm, 2, cylindrical in form, as shown in Fig. II, to occupy a corresponding bearing in the lower end of the spindle 8. The arm-2 is held to its bearing by washer 4 and rivet 5. The latter may be formed in one with said axle and arm when the same are made of malleable cast-iron. Upon the spindles 6 of the axle 1 are journaled the floor wheels or rollers 7.

At I'tstop the spindle 3 is riveted over a washer, 8, situated in a socket in the furnitureplate 9. The swiveling Inotion of the caster is between the cylindrical portion 10 of the spindle and the neck 11 projectingdownward from the furniture-plate. Said furniture-plate is provided with a circular downwardly-projecting rim, 12, inclosing the antifriction movement. `IIhis movement consists of a roller, 13, having bearing on the furniture-plate, and journaled in lugs or brackets 14, cast on the upper surfaceof a flange or projection, 15, formed on the spindle 3. The best swiveling motion of the caster is obtained, while the strain on the spindle is avoided, by placing the anti-friction roller 13 in a line vertically above the axis of the floor-wheels,as indicated by the dotted line in Figs. II and III..

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In combination with a floor-wheel, the axle thereof having horizontal cylindrical arm. a vertical spindlein the bottom of which said arm is journaled, a iiange or projection on said spindle, and a single vertical antifriction roller supported on said fiange vertically over the floor-wheel axle, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a furniture -plate having a circular downwardly-projecting rim, a vertical spindle swiveled in said plate, a circular flange formed on said spindle, vertical anti friction movement supported. on said flange and rolling on the furniture-plate,two floor-wheels and their axle having 2a horizontal arm bearing in thelower end of said spindle, so as to have liberty of oscillating movement, substantially as shown and described.

STEPHEN C. MENDENHALL.

Vitnesses:

HARRY E. KNIGHT, L. M. HOPKINS. 

